Chapter 50: Treatment

Content Warning: Contains a dubiously consensual non-explicit scene

…………………………………

Fang Li reluctantly left the bamboo house and touched his stomach. He really was very hungry.

The sunlight outside was a bit blinding. He lifted a hand to shield his eyes, swayed slightly, then fell to the ground with a plop. This time, he’d fainted for real.

By the time he woke up again, he was already back in his room.

Because he’d been hungry for too long, his entire body was devoid of energy. He lay on the bed, not wanting to budge a centimeter.

Fang Li took a deep breath, and an enticing scent wafted in from outside. He was startled out of his dying throes and sat up, scooting to the door to push it open and run outside.  As soon as he saw the table full of dishes, his eyes lit up. 

But when his gaze turned, he saw that Xie Huai was actually sitting to the side.

Fang Li’s footsteps couldn’t help but falter.

Xie Huai was sitting upright with his eyes lowered. Seeing that Fang Li had woken, he said in a hoarse voice, “You must be starving. Eat.”

Fang Li contemplated for a moment. He was just acting the part of a fool who didn’t recognize inedia pills, it wasn’t like he wanted to starve himself. Since there was food here, of course he was going to eat! What did it matter if Xie Huai was here or not?

Fang Li immediately sat down with a clear conscience. As expected, food tasted much better when one was hungry!

As he ate and ate, he was inwardly endlessly touched……

Thank goodness Xie Huai had come back in time, or else he might really have starved to death…..

At the thought, Fang Li felt a wave of terror in hindsight. After all, dying wasn’t scary, but dying of hunger was pretty terrifying. He’d pretty much put all of his heart into covering up his disguise. He didn’t even know how he’d endured it……

Xie Huai watched this scene silently, his face expressionless, but his hands clenched underneath his sleeves.

He still remembered that although this person had had a lax, sloppy appearance day after day, only when it came to eating would he put his heart into it, and he would never short-change himself on that.

But now, you would rather starve yourself into this state than reveal your identity, for fear that I’ll recognize you……

Xie Huai closed his eyes, covering up his pained expression.

Was the person who’d once cared about me not you? Was everything from back then false?

If I had really left, or if I hadn’t come back in time, what would have happened to you?

Would you have disappeared like this before my eyes once more……

Xie Huai watched the person beside him blankly, the emotions in his chest seemingly about to burst, but in the end, he only said softly, “Don’t eat so quickly. You’ll choke.”

Fang Li had been eating somewhat urgently at first, but after filling up his stomach a bit, he slowed down. After all, after starving for so long, it wasn’t good to overeat.

As he drank the porridge, he began to space out. He subconsciously lifted his hand, but just as he was about to wipe his mouth, his hand suddenly fell into the other person’s palm. Fang Li startled a little.

He saw Xie Huai grasp his palm in one hand and softly wipe the corner of his mouth with the other, slowly and unhurriedly helping him wipe the corner of his mouth clean. Then, Xie Huai lowered his eyes and helped him neaten his clothes that had fallen into disarray. 

Xie Huai’s movements were very tender, but Fang Li became even more nervous, his entire body stretched taut. There was something off about Xie Huai……

Had he exposed himself?

After all, Xie Huai was such a sharp and intelligent person, and he’d even preserved Fang Li’s lifebound weapon so well. Perhaps he’d sensed his identity?

But if he’d exposed himself, would Xie Huai remain so unperturbed? Didn’t Xie Huai want to accost him for his crimes?

After all, Fang Li had hidden so many things. 

Just the matter of coming back to life after dying alone was very difficult to explain……

Fang Li’s heart was full of guilt and unease. 

Xie Huai’s gaze fell on the young man’s face. He seemed a little nervous, his lips pressed tightly together, his eyes uneasy and evasive……

Xie Huai’s heart felt like it was suspended in an icy river, but his lips rose faintly. 

There are no more barriers between us, and we can clearly be together now, yet you want to leave me with all your heart. If I were to expose your identity, and you persisted in wanting to leave, how would I make you stay?

Just this is fine, too……

If you don’t want me to recognize you, I can pretend that I don’t.

If you want to continue playing pretend, I can play along with you, can’t I?

As long as you’re still by my side.

Fang Li watched Xie Huai’s departing figure blankly.

He didn’t know why, but his heart clenched. Just what was wrong?

He couldn’t understand.

……………………………

Xie Huai took back the inedia pills and had food prepared for Fang Li every day. Because he’d just gone hungry for several days, Xie Huai was afraid he’d eat too much all of a sudden, and all of the food he’d prepared these days were clear porridge and light dishes.

Fang Li’s complexion quickly recovered quite a bit.

These kinds of days really were very boring……

He was about to become a pickled fish with no pursuits in life.

That day, he was staying inside his courtyard with nothing to do, lying there to sunbathe, when Xie Huai finally came by again.

Xie Huai still had that cold, detached appearance. He said to Fang Li, “Come with me.”’

Fang Li looked at him with confusion. I can’t understand you, okay?

Xie Huai didn’t get angry, either. He smiled faintly, then led Fang Li by the hand and headed out.

Fang Li could only let Xie Huai pull him along.

The demonic palace was pretty big, full of gardens and buildings and streams with little bridges…… Back then, it’d been constructed with the utmost extravagance, but there were many places that Fang Li hadn’t been to yet.

Yan Sui had been a living corpse with no feelings toward any external matters, and as for himself, he’d been solely focused on the mission at the time. Every day, he’d been thinking about clocking out from work and getting out of there, and moreover, the demonic palace’s gloominess hadn’t been to his tastes, so other than the residential palace, he very rarely went anywhere else……

But now, the entire demonic palace was empty, the trees casting shade all over the place, vines growing rampant along the walls. Walking through here was like walking through some tranquil ruins.

Finally, Xie Huai brought him to a side palace.

This was a side palace that he’d never been to before.

A trace of doubt surfaced on Fang Li’s face.

Xie Huai pushed the door open and entered. The white mist from inside met them head on, and in the middle of the room was a warm spring pool constructed from white jade.

But right now, the pool wasn’t filled with spring water, but with a translucent white mixture. The fragrance of herbs wafted into his nose, and Fang Li sniffed lightly, discerning the scent of rejuvenation grass, phoenix sprigs, freshblood flowers, and so on. They were all valuable medicinal herbs, and there was actually a whole pool soaking with them. Fang Li’s feelings were complicated. He hadn’t thought Xie Huai would actually be pretty rich……

Back then, he hadn’t been able to retrieve any herbs from the treasure vault, but here, Xie Huai had prepared a whole pool full of them for him, and they were all things that he just happened to need……

Xie Huai was really going to treat his illness?

Then he wouldn’t be polite about it.

Seeing the pool full of herbs, Fang Li was already itching to give it a try……

Xie Huai glanced to the side at him and said, “Go ahead and disrobe.”

Fang Li: ?

Disrobe what, I can’t understand.

The pool full of medicine does look very appetizing, and it truly is like being sent coal in the middle of a snowstorm. But I can take a soak all by myself, you can go now.

The young man before him exposed an ignorant appearance, as if he couldn’t understand him at all. But Xie Huai wasn’t the least bit annoyed. A teasing smile appeared at the corners of his lips. He reached out and brought Fang Li into his arms and lowered his head slightly, saying in a hoarse voice beside his ear, “It’s fine if you don’t know how. I can help you.”

Fang Li: ??

The man’s body was just as warm as always, his innate Dao physique burning like lava. Xie Huai’s aura completely enveloped him, his breathing ticklish as it fell on his ear……

For two big men, this distance wasn’t too appropriate, was it?

Fang Li’s whole body immediately stretched taut from nervousness, and he wriggled a little with unease. Xie Huai easily stopped him and said impassively, “I promised your father to make sure you live a long life of a hundred years, so, don’t move.”

As he spoke, his fingers softly hooked the front of his robes. There were clearly several layers of clothes separating them, but Fang Li felt like he’d been burned.

I don’t know what you’re saying, I can’t understand!

I can do it myself!

The person in his arms was still squirming uneasily, and Xie Huai’s breathing suddenly became heavy. His fingers curled slightly, as if using all his energy to suppress something, his black eyes as obscure as a bottomless abyss. After a long time, he slowly opened his mouth. “If you can do it yourself, just tell me, and I’ll let you do it by yourself, hm?”

Fang Li: ???

You want a fool to personally tell you, I’m fine, I can do it myself?

You’re picking on someone’s weak spots, you know that?

Fang Li was originally going to keep making a fuss, but he suddenly met Xie Huai’s murky eyes……

Forget it, forget it, why don’t you do it, then.

Xie Huai fixed his eyes on the young man’s face. On his face was nervousness that was difficult to conceal, but he would rather continue to pretend than be discovered by him……

As for him, exactly what was he hoping for?

The ridiculous one was himself.

Xie Huai let out a soft laugh, but his eyes became even darker.

He wrapped his arms around the restless fellow in his arms, fingertips brushing past his neck, and with a light pull, the front of his robes fell open, revealing his faintly discernible collarbones……

…………………………

Fang Li was tossed completely bare into the pool.

He didn’t know whether it was because of the hot steam or something else, but his entire body was flushed in a layer of red, like a cooked shrimp.

Calm down, calm down, it was just having an herbal soak, that was all.

What was a big, strong man getting afraid of being looked at for?

Just think of it as taking a bath in the public baths. They were both big, old fellows, what was there to be embarrassed about?

Besides, how proper of a person was Xie Huai? He was only treating a fool, kindly curing his illness out of the goodness of his heart. He hadn’t done anything out of line at all. Was there anyone in this world who was more of a person of honor and integrity than Xie Huai?

Xie Huai couldn’t possibly do anything to him. At this thought, Fang Li immediately calmed down and sat docilely in the pool to soak. This pool of water had been steeped with expensive spirit herbs, and the gentle medicinal effect slowly seeped into his body. His eyes started to close in comfort.

This probably counted as a blessing in disguise, right?

Other than from Xie Huai, he probably wouldn’t be able to obtain such good conditions for recuperating. This was just like a penniless little fellow from a third world country suddenly entering a top-level specialist hospital in a rich country with tons of specialty medicine getting piled onto him for free. There was no bigger jackpot than this.

Right now, he had a body that was suitable for cultivation, and the only things missing were the difficulty of taking the first step, and cultivation resources. But Xie Huai had everything here. Waiting until his body had recovered to escape didn’t seem too bad either……

Of course, he wasn’t going to take advantage of Xie Huai.

After he’d re-cultivated successfully, he would think of ways to earn money and pay Xie Huai back. He remembered that this world had lots of secret domains. When the time came, he could retrieve some precious treasures. Although this pool of medicine was expensive, he would still be able to pay it back.

Just as Fang Li was contemplating how to pay Xie Huai back…… the still surface of the water was disturbed by layer after layer of ripples. He lifted his head, startled.

The white-robed man stepped, clothed, into the pool.

In the dense white mist, the man’s cold, celestial face looked like that of a deity untouched by dust and dirt. There wasn’t a trace of emotion on his ascetic face, his black eyes as abstruse as the sea, his white robes slowly fanning out in the water……

Like a god from the highest heaven stepping onto the red dust of the mortal world.

Fang Li’s eyes slowly widened.

He watched Xie Huai approach step by step.

Coming closer and closer to him……

Wait a second, what was Xie Huai doing? It’s none of your business over here, you can wait outside!

The mist condensed into fine drops on Xie Huai’s hair and lashes, like the dewdrops on the willow leaves on a spring day. Even if there wasn’t a hair out of place on that face, cold and aloof, it inexplicably gave off a fluttery feel, making one unable to help but hold their breath.

His pale, thin lips parted slightly. “In order to allow your body to absorb the effects of the medicine better, you’ll need the help of my treatment technique.”

So, so it was only treatment……

Fang Li suddenly let out a breath of relief in his heart.

It was normal, normal.

It wasn’t a lie, either. Moreover, with an expert like Xie Huai to help clear his meridians, it would definitely help him absorb the effects of the medicine more quickly. Only, he was already satisfied with a pool of herbs like this, so he’d never even thought about having Xie Huai personally treat him……

Besides, right now, he instinctively didn’t want to get too close to Xie Huai.

Xie Huai fixed his eyes on Fang Li, his cool, low, hoarse voice resounding. “If you don’t oppose, I’ll take it to mean you agree.”

Fang Li: ……

He was a fool, okay, how would he oppose? How would a fool understand these things?

In just the few moments that his attention wandered…

The man had already leaned forward toward him, his scorching hot aura and the steam mingling together. Fang Li’s body stiffened, nearly unable to breath. The temperature here was truly too high……

Xie Huai propped up his chin with one hand so that he wouldn’t move about, and his other hand rested at the back of his head. He said impassively, “The Baihui acupoint.”

I, I know it’s the Baihui acupoint……

Fang Li quivered faintly in his nervousness. His chin was forced to stay raised, and his gaze fell on Xie Huai’s throat, the distance just before his eyes.

He couldn’t see Xie Huai’s face.

He only saw the man’s throat move up and down, his cool, clear voice carrying over from above Fang Li’s head, his movements slow and tender, not carrying a hint of other intentions, yet they still made Fang Li have a kind of feeling as if he were sitting on pins and needles……

The flow of water softly swept past.

The man’s clothes lightly bumped into him.

Like a feather brushing past again and again.

The man’s fingers moved up gently, half inserted into his hair, and paused for a moment, pressing in circles near his pressure point, the pressure neither too light nor too heavy. “The Shenting acupoint.”

Fang Li didn’t dare move at all anymore.

His head was trapped in place by Xie Huai, like a patient lying on the operating table, his whole body injected with anesthesia, allowing the doctor to operate on him.

Don’t be nervous, don’t be nervous……

Xie Huai was the number one in the world, after all. There definitely wouldn’t be a problem with something as simple as massaging pressure points.

Fang Li took in a deep breath and told himself to calm down.

The man seemed not to notice his unease at all. His movements remained neither slow nor rushed, steady and powerful, the spiritual energy at his fingertips penetrating through the pressure points to harmonize with the medicine in the pool and nourish Fang Li’s damaged meridians……

“The Fengchi point.”

“The Tanzhong point.”

Fang Li’s eyelashes trembled, and he squeezed his eyes shut.

………………………………

“The Qimen point.”

“The Weilu point.”

Following the cool, calm voice, the man’s hand seemed to have the power of foresight. Before Fang Li could dodge, he was pressed firmly against the side of the pool.

Xie Huai’s voice was calm, yet without a trace of warmth. “If you move about, and I press the wrong place, I’m afraid it could be life-threatening.”

Fang Li: “……”

His gaze was a bit misty. He didn’t know if it was because of the fog, or something else……

The shame made him clench his fists.

At this moment, he was incomparably glad that his back was facing Xie Huai, so he didn’t need to let Xie Huai see his current appearance……

Why was it like this?

Xie Huai was clearly only helping him cure his illness, and his movements hadn’t been the slightest bit out of line. In the doctor’s eyes, all patients were the same, just a piece of flesh, nothing more……

There was nobody in this entire world who was more of a person of honor and integrity than Xie Huai!

Back then, even when helping him draw out the poison, it had been done hand to hand. Xie Huai couldn’t be more pure, he was helping Fang Li treat his illness without any ulterior thoughts, yet Fang Li himself was……

This definitely couldn’t be Xie Huai’s problem, but a problem with himself.

It was his thoughts that were too filthy, too sinful.

At this thought, Fang Li’s gaze became stupefied. He clearly hadn’t been like this before? He and Xie Huai were two big men, and they were both straight men, what was there to be embarrassed about……

He hadn’t really been poisoned by this nonsensical little smut world, had he?

Fang Li shut his eyes tight.

Silently reading a heart-cleansing mantra.

Trying as hard as possible to ignore the sensations that Xie Huai was giving him.

Calm down.

No stray thoughts.

The doctor is benevolent. You must be the one overthinking things!

…………………………

The Author Has Something to Say:

Fang Li: The doctor is benevolent, it isn’t Xie Huai who’s dirty, but my thoughts.

Xie Huai: I have to be careful, I can’t scare away the wife.

Author: Boiling a frog in warm water ✓